Baptist Ministers’ Wives and Widows Association of Washington DC and Vicinity, Inc.
Recap of President’s Installation Speech for 2015-2016
Our sisterhood began in 1933. We welcome all Baptist ministers’ wives and widowsand promise to strengthen the bonds of friendship; strive towards a wholesome, harmonious, sympathetic, and sisterly relationship among ministers’ wives and widows everywhere, and to practice and uphold the great Christian principles given by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We have given over $60,000 in scholarships to young students. Perform community service days at places such as Stoddard Home, Lott Carey, Capital Food Bank, So Others Might Eat, and donate tote bags of toiletries and gifts for nursing home residents. We support each other when there is a death or illness in the family of any of our sisters. Our membership ranges from young mothers to 101 years-old widow.
1. Grow membership by recruiting additional ministers’ wives and widows to join our fellowship.
2. Use Orientation and Membership Committees to create Welcome Package with Policy and Procedures Manual for new and potential members to explain and showcase the overall International organization.
3. Conduct Orientation training in January 2016 and support the Founder’s Day, DC State Retreat, and Regional and International conferences that provide fellowship across denominations.
4. Create a standardized logo for the BMWWA to be used on all advertisements, clothing, letterhead, and other branding material, allowing us to be readily identified as a sisterhood.
5. Combine the Prayer and Inspiration Committee with the Worship Committeeto conduct the opening devotions and group prayer at the start and close of each meeting and for intercessory prayer needs.
6. Offer the Faithful Servant Awards at annual Fellowship Breakfast allowing churches to honor members of their congregations who have performed faithful service to their church and community.
7. Update website to include significant events and activities of our members’ churches such as Pastors anniversary, church annual days, Prayer Breakfasts, First Lady teas, retreats, musicals, or revivals which will help us know how and when to support each other. Develop aFacebook page and Phone Treeto contact membersthrough social media and give them easy access to information whenever needed.
8. Use monthly meeting programs to motivate members to improve health, finances, home life, intergenerational connectivity, and diversity outreach. Have speakers discuss Domestic Violence, Mentoring Girls, Recovering from Public Failures, and other topics.
9. Host fundraiser – “Husbands in Concert: Clergy in Song" that showcases our clergy husbands and sons singingas soloists, in duets, and in a group.
10. Ask each church and BMMWA member to donate toys and books to create a playroom in the DC General Homeless Shelterfor the young children who do not have a place to play. Be visible in fighting the negative impact that domestic violence, sexual exploitation and homelessness has had on these children of single mothers (many between the ages of 18 and 24 years with multiple children and no high school education or training).